Nicotine Drug Tests

Nicotine use may not only be proven based on one’s symptoms, a number of diagnostics are now available to detect nicotine in the body.

When one smokes, nicotine inhaled is then metabolized into cotinine in organs such as the lungs and the liver, and subsequently excreted in the urine. Apart from nicotine, cotinine is a reliable biomarker and indicator for nicotine use, detectable in the blood, urine, and saliva.

The length of time that nicotine stays in the body and cotinine can be a reliable indicator of nicotine use depends on the amount of tobacco smoked, the number of years smoking tobacco, and the type of nicotine test performed. It can be as short as 2 days, or as long as 3 months.

How Long Does Nicotine Stay in your Blood

Nicotine is metabolized into cotinine, which then admixes with blood. Liver detoxification then takes place, facilitating removal of toxins from the blood. This process is slow in comparison to the removal of waste products by the kidney in form of urine, which takes place at a faster rate.

In these blood tests, nicotine is visible usually 1 to 3 days after last use of a nicotine-containing product, such as cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (snuff), and nicotine patches or gum. This may also vary in lieu of the amount of nicotine use, and the individual’s health and age.

On the other hand, when cotinine levels are used for determination, it may take 1 to 10 days until the levels will be undetectable in the blood.

However, a number of reasons can lead to false positive results of nicotine in the blood. These include working at metal refining areas where high levels of thiocyanate present, consumption of thiocyanate containing foods like cabbage, broccoli, almonds and mustards, and intake of medications such as amphetamines. Laboratory errors should also be considered.

Nicotine Blood Test

Both qualitative and quantitative blood tests can be used to detect nicotine use. Either blood nicotine levels or its presence or absence can be determined. Nicotine, along with its derivatives cotinine and anabasine, can be used for these blood tests. These tests can detect even the slightest traces of nicotine in the bloodstream.

How Long Does Nicotine Stay in your Urine

When inhaled, nicotine is converted into cotinine, which together with the body’s wastes products is excreted in the urine. In detecting nicotine and its metabolites in the body, levels remain detectable in the urine only for 3 to 4 days.

However, this may be different for some cases. For passive smokers, urine nicotine test can be positive for as long as 15 to 20 days. Cotinine may also take longer to be excreted with wastes if menthol cigarettes are used.

Nicotine Urine Test

The standard test for determining nicotine use is thru a urine sample. The test is the most commonly used one, since it is readily available, and is sold over the counter. It detects cotinine, the nicotinine metabolite also used in blood tests. In this test, a urine sample is collected, in which a strip is dipped for 5 minutes.

The result is then read as either positive or negative. The accepted standard cutoff level of 200ng/ml of nicotine is the test’s basis.

How Long Does Nicotine Stay in your Saliva

Cotinine, the nicotine metabolite used in the saliva test, has a longer half life than nicotine itself. It can be detected in the saliva more than 10 hours, even as long as 2 to 4 days.

Nicotine Saliva Test

This is said to be the most accurate nicotine test and is most preferred. It does not only eliminate the need to handle urine specimens, but it can also provide an approximate amount of tobacco used by the person. It can detect levels 0 to 2,000ng/ml of nicotine, a range lower than that can be determined by the urine test.

In this test, a person must provide a saliva sample, in which a strip is soaked for 20 minutes. The saliva then reacts with cotinine, indicating different levels of cotinine and suggesting the amount of nicotine exposure.

How to Effectively Clear Nicotine From the Body

Nicotine is a stimulant and is highly addictive. But even in the presence of withdrawal symptoms, quitting can be feasible. The following are means with which nicotine can be cleared off from the body, and in the process, avoid nicotine withdrawal syndrome effectively:

Plenty of water must be consumed. The more water consumed, the more nicotine released from the body thru the urine.

Eat fruits and vegetables. They are antioxidants, with high fiber and water content. They can help metabolize the nicotine out of the system.

Eat foods such as garlic, onions and egg yolks. These increase bile production in the liver, helpful in toxin and nicotine removal.

What is Nicotine?

When one hears of nicotine, tobacco immediately comes into mind. Nicotine was named after the tobacco plant, Nicotania tabacum, which, in turn, was named after French Jean Nicot de Villemain, who sent and promoted the plant in Paris during the 16th century.

This alkaloid constitutes approximately 3% of tobacco’s total dry weight, mostly its roots and leaves.However, smaller amounts (around 2-7µg/kg) can also be found among other species of the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae), such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, green peppers and leaves of coca plants.

In the late 17th century, nicotine was used as an insecticide. It has an antiherbivore effect, particularly lethal to insects. Its potent nervous system effects deterrent to insects, are similar to those attracting humans, inducing addiction.

Nicotine sulfate was considered to be the most hazardous botanical insecticide available to home gardeners, since it was highly toxic to humans and was rapidly absorbed through the skin. Thus, in 2008, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibited the use of these nicotine-based pesticides.

Effects of Nicotine on the Body

In high concentrations (30 – 60mg), nicotine is neurotoxic, deterrent to insects and lethal to humans. On the other hand, in smaller doses (1mg in every cigarette stick), it acts as a stimulant.

Affecting mostly the nervous system, nicotine decreases the appetite, boosts mood, relieves depression, enhances brain activity, and improves cognition and memory. However, it also stimulates intestinal motility, increases salivation, increases both the heart rate and blood pressure, and may even cause nausea and vomiting.

Nicotine Addiction

It only takes one milligram of nicotine per one cigarette stick to stimulate the brain, but this would be enough to cause cigarette smoking-induced nicotine addiction.

The brain creates neurotransmitters, substances which can determine sensations and emotions. When nicotine is inhaled, it then masks such neurotransmitters, deceiving neurons and replacing the substance, acetylcholine on its receptors. It then causes an abnormal production of dopamine, inducing euphoria.

After smoking, the nicotine effect ceases and the euphoria disappears. Thus, when the feel-good sensation is gone, there may be an attempt to recover such feeling; hence, the need for another bout of cigarette smoking. The cycle and, subsequently, addiction then ensues.

Some smokers may even attempt to quit, and experience symptoms of nicotine withdrawal: intense craving for nicotine, anxiety, depression, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, frustration, headaches, weight gain and inability to concentrate. These symptoms peak about 2 to 3 days after cessation. They seem to be more frequent among people who had longer years of smoking and who have had more cigarettes sticks smoked per day. These are the same symptoms the nicotine addicts are avoiding, thus prolonging their addiction to smoking and to nicotine.